Three Looks at the Lord's Supper
THREE LOOKS AT THE LORD'S SUPPER
1 Corinthians 11:22-29
When participating in the Lord's Supper, we need to make at least three serious reverent looks: an inward look, a backward look, and a forward look.
I. WE NEED TO LOOK WITHIN
If there is ever a time that we need to do some serious, reverent heart searching, it is in preparation for taking the Lord's Supper. Paul says that we are to examine ourselves not to discover whether we are worthy to participate, none of us are that, but to determine if we are partaking in a worthy manner and for a worthy purpose. No one merits the privilege of sitting at the Lord's table. By God's grace, we are given the privilege of becoming his children and having fellowship with him.
The Psalmist's prayer is always appropriate as we seek to create a proper attitude for the observance of the Lord's Supper. Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if [there] [is] [any] wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
II. WE NEED TO LOOK BACKWARD
The Lord's Supper is a memorial supper that is to remind us of Jesus' death on the cross for our sins. By inspired imagination, we should sit in the gloom of Gethesemane's Garden and try to enter into the agony of our savior as he committed himself to the cross on our behalf. We should stand outside the walls of old Jerusalem and survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died. We should let this experience inform our minds, stir our emotions, and sway our will. We must look back to Calvary if we are to look forward to what lies ahead and if we are going to receive the elements of the Lord's Supper into our minds, our hearts, our attitudes, and our ambitions.
III. WE NEED TO LOOK FORWARD
By participating in the Lord's Supper, we proclaim to the world that Jesus Christ did die on the cross, he did shed his blood, and he did rise again in the third day. We are told to do this until he returns. The most glorious event on the horizon is that moment when the heavens will roll back like a scroll and the Lord Jesus will descend with a shout, with the trumpet of God, and the voice of the archangel. With the apostle John we should look forward and pray
Revelation 22:20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
To properly participate in the Lord's Supper, we need to be baptized, committed believers who will take an inward look, a backward look, and a forward look. These three looks can help us to reverently and meaningfully participate in the Lord's Supper.
TIME OF SILENT PRAYER
Mark 14:22 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke [it], and gave [it] to them and said, "Take, eat; this is My body."
PASS BREAD
Mark 14:23-24 Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave [it] to them, and they all drank from it. And He said to them, "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many.
PASS CUP
Mark 14:25-26 "Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.